Sampling lance with metal tube

ABSTRACT

A sampling lance for a molten metal bath includes an elongated metal tube or sleeve having upper and lower sleeve portions which are partially separated by a notch and interconnected by a narrow web portion which bends under pressure or impact. The notch may be formed by two intersecting cuts in the sleeve. The notch is in registry with the side entry port of a refractory sample cartridge located within the metal sleeve. The metal sleeve protects the refractory cartridge while in the bath and also serves as a carrier for the cartridge. Upon removal of the lance from the metal bath, access to the cartridge is gained by striking the lower sleeve portion against the floor or a bench to shatter the cartridge and bend the web to open the notch. The refractory cartridge and sample can then be removed through the notch.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-S. Clement SwisherAttorney-Wheeler, Wheeler, House & Clemency ABSTRACT: A sampling lancefor a molten metal bath includes an elongated metal tube or sleevehaving upper and lower sleeve portions which are partially separated bya notch and interconnected by a narrow web portion which bends underpressure or impact. The notch may be formed by two intersecting cuts inthe sleeve. The notch is in registry with the side entry port of arefractory sample cartridge located within the metal sleeve. The metalsleeve protects the refractory cartridge while in the bath and alsoserves as a carrier for the cartridge. Upon removal of the lance fromthe metal bath, access to the cartridge is gained by striking the lowersleeve portion against the floor or a bench to shatter the cartridge andbend the web to open the notch. The refractory cartridge and sample canthen be removed through the notch.

SAMPLING LANCE WITH METAL TUBE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The inventionrelates to the art of sampling molten metal SUMMARY OF INVENTION Theinvention provides a sampling lance for obtaining a sample from a moltenmetal bath which includes a refractory coated metal sleeve having twosleeve portions interconnected by a web portion. A sample cartridgehaving a side entry port is located within the sleeve. The sleeveportions are partially separated by a tapered notch with the notch inregistry with the side entry port of the sample cartridge to affordcommunication of the cartridge interior with the bath. A web or hingeportion at the vertex of the notch interconnects the two sleeveportions. The web portion is flexible or deformable under pressure orimpact to permit opening of the notch for convenient access to thecartridge and sample. Since the sample often has a radial extension atthe side entry port which cannot pass through the tube, the samplecartridge becomes accessible for axial withdrawal through the openednotch, whereas it is incapable of axial withdrawal without said openednotch.

The invention also provides a consumable paper sleeve located betweenthe refractory cartridge and the metal tube.

The paper sleeve is consumed when the sampling lance is immersed in thebath leaving a clearance between the sample cartridge and the metal tubeto facilitate axial withdrawal of the sample cartridge through thebottom of the metal tube if a radial extension has not been formed onthe sample.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following disclosure.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sampling lance inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary partially broken away view of thesampling lance shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a sampling lance shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5is a view of the sampling lance shown in FIG. 4 containing a metalsample and showing the notch opened for cartridge removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a sampling lance which is generallydesignated and which includes a metal tube or sleeve 12 having first andsecond sleeve portions 14 and 16. The sleeve portions 14 and 16 areprovided with adjacent edges 20 and 22 which define an aperture or notch24 in the sleeve. The notch may be formed by two intersecting cuts, andremovable of the wedge of metal located between the cuts. Means areprovided for connecting the first and second sleeve portions 14 and 16and adapted to normally retain said sleeves in alignment, said meansbeing further adapted to yieldably afford displacement of the firstsleeve portion relative to the axis of the sleeve. As

. shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve portions 14 and 16 are joined by a web orhinge portion 25 which remains after forming the notch 24.

The sleeve 12 carries a refractory sample cartridge 30 which may be inany of the various forms disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,201. Thecartridge is inserted in the open end 31 of the sleeve portion 14 afterthe notch 24 is formed in the refractory cement coating applied afterthe cartridge 30 is inserted in the sleeve. The sleeve 12 has an insidediameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the cartridge toprovide a snug fit with the cartridge.

The notch 24 is desirably located at a distance from the end 41 of thesleeve approximately the same as the distance of the side entry port 34from the bottom 38 the cartridge 30 to facilitate manual orientation ofthe cartridge 30 so that the side entry port is in registry with thenotch 24.

To prevent entry of slag into the side entry port 34, the entry port 34is covered with one of more fusible or combustible discs 42, which maybe made of a metal such as steel, or formed from paper. The materialshould be consumed at a lower temperature than the bath temperature. Ifan aluminum disc is used, it will also function as a kill to deoxidizethe sample. The discs 42 are preferably secured in place by a bead ofrefractory cement 43.

After the cartridge is inserted in the sleeve, the sleeve 12 ispreferably covered with a refractory coating 44 to increase theimmersion life of the sleeve 12. The coating 44 may be applied bydipping the metal sleeve 12 into a slurry of refractory cement.

The invention also provides consumable spacing means located between therefractory cartridge 30 and the metal tube 12. In the disclosedconstruction, the consumable spacing means is in the form of a papersleeve 50 impregnated with sodium silicate. 1

FIG. 5 shows a lance which has been removed from a bath and whichcontains a sample 46 having a radial extension 48. Access to the sampleis obtained by striking the sleeve portion 14 against the floor, etc.,to open the notch 24, and partially fracture the refractory cartridge 30so the intact portion of the cartridge 34 and the sample 46 can beremoved axially toward the opened notch for analysis (see FIG. 5). Thepaper sleeve 50 is consumed while the lance is in the molten metal bath,leaving a clearance 52 (FIG. 5) which facilitates axial withdrawal ofthe cartridge and sample 46 in the event a radial extension 48 has notformed on the sample 46.

What is claimed is: v

l. A sampling lance comprising a sleeve, said sleeve including first andsecond sleeve portions, a cartridge within a said sleeve portion andhaving a side entry port for receiving a molten metal sample from amolten metal bath, said first and second sleeve portions having wallportions defining an aperture in registry with said entry port, meansconnecting said first and second sleeve portions and adapted to normallyretain said sleeves in alignment, said means being further adapted toyield to afford displacement of said first sleeve portion relative tothe axis of said sleeve to open said aperture.

2. A lance in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for connectingsaid first and second sleeve portions comprises a web portion integralwith said sleeves.

3. A sampling lance comprising a metal sleeve having first and secondsleeve portions, said first and second sleeve portions being connectedby a deformable web portion, said sleeve portions having edges whichdefine a notch in said sleeve, and a cartridge for receiving a moltenmetal sample located within said sleeve, said cartridge having a sideentry port in registry with said notch.

4. A sampling lance in accordance with claim 3 including refractorycement filling said notch and covering said cartridge around said sideentry port. I o

5. A sampling lance in accordance with claim 3 including a metal discadapted to deoxidize a sample, said disc covering said side entry portand located in said notch.

6. In a sampling lance provided with a refractory samplereceivingcartridge having a side opening to receive a sample, the subcombinationcomprising a metal sleeve having first and side second sleeve portionsconnected at one side by a deformable web and separated at the oppositeside to expose said cartridge.

7. A sampling lance comprising a sleeve, said sleeve including first andsecond sleeve portions, means connecting said first and second sleeveportions and adapted to normally retain said sleeves in alignment, saidmeans being further adapted to yield to afford displacement of saidfirst sleeve portion relative to the axis of said sleeve, said first andsecond sleeve portions having wall portions defining an apertureadjacent said connecting means, and a cartridge within a said sleeveportion and having a side entry port for receiving a molten metal samplefrom a molten metal bath, said side entry port being in registry withsaid aperture of said sleeve, and including consumable spacing meanslocated between said cartridge and said sleeve whereby upon immersion ofsaid lance in a molten bath, said spacing means is consumed to provide aclearance between said cartridge and said sleeve to afford axialwithdrawal of said cartridge from said sleeve.

8. A sampling lance comprising a metal sleeve, an aperture in saidsleeve, a refractory cartridge in said sleeve, said cartridge having aside entry port for receiving a molten metal sample from a molten metalbath, said side entry port being in registry with said aperture andconsumable spacing means between said cartridge and said sleeve toprovide a clearance between said cartridge and said sleeve when saidspacing means is consumed upon immersion of said lance in a molten metalbath to thereby afford axial withdrawal of said cartridge from saidsleeve.

1. A sampling lance comprising a sleeve, said sleeve including first andsecond sleeve portions, a cartridge within a said sleeve portion andhaving a side entry port for receiving a molten metal sample from amolten metal bath, said first and second sleeve portions having wallportions defining an aperture in registry with said entry port, meansconnecting said first and second sleeve portions and adapted to normallyretain said sleeves in alignment, said means being further adapted toyield to afford displacement of said first sleeve portion relative tothe axis of said sleeve to open said aperture.
 2. A lance in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said meanS for connecting said first and secondsleeve portions comprises a web portion integral with said sleeves.
 3. Asampling lance comprising a metal sleeve having first and second sleeveportions, said first and second sleeve portions being connected by adeformable web portion, said sleeve portions having edges which define anotch in said sleeve, and a cartridge for receiving a molten metalsample located within said sleeve, said cartridge having a side entryport in registry with said notch.
 4. A sampling lance in accordance withclaim 3 including refractory cement filling said notch and covering saidcartridge around said side entry port.
 5. A sampling lance in accordancewith claim 3 including a metal disc adapted to deoxidize a sample, saiddisc covering said side entry port and located in said notch.
 6. In asampling lance provided with a refractory sample-receiving cartridgehaving a side opening to receive a sample, the subcombination comprisinga metal sleeve having first and second sleeve portions connected at oneside by a deformable web and separated at the opposite side to exposesaid cartridge.
 7. A sampling lance comprising a sleeve, said sleeveincluding first and second sleeve portions, means connecting said firstand second sleeve portions and adapted to normally retain said sleevesin alignment, said means being further adapted to yield to afforddisplacement of said first sleeve portion relative to the axis of saidsleeve, said first and second sleeve portions having wall portionsdefining an aperture adjacent said connecting means, and a cartridgewithin a said sleeve portion and having a side entry port for receivinga molten metal sample from a molten metal bath, said side entry portbeing in registry with said aperture of said sleeve, and includingconsumable spacing means located between said cartridge and said sleevewhereby upon immersion of said lance in a molten bath, said spacingmeans is consumed to provide a clearance between said cartridge and saidsleeve to afford axial withdrawal of said cartridge from said sleeve. 8.A sampling lance comprising a metal sleeve, an aperture in said sleeve,a refractory cartridge in said sleeve, said cartridge having a sideentry port for receiving a molten metal sample from a molten metal bath,said side entry port being in registry with said aperture and consumablespacing means between said cartridge and said sleeve to provide aclearance between said cartridge and said sleeve when said spacing meansis consumed upon immersion of said lance in a molten metal bath tothereby afford axial withdrawal of said cartridge from said sleeve.